The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has resigned and left the country, the head of the army has confirmed, amid some of the worst violence since the birth of the South Asian nation more than 50 years ago, Paralel.Az reports citing The Guardian.

In a briefing to reporters, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that he is assuming control at what he called “a critical time for our country” and will establish an interim government.

“I am taking responsibility now and we will go to the president and ask to form an interim government to lead the country in the meantime.”

Celebrations erupted among the crowds who had been on the streets of the capital, Dhaka, for another day of protests amid reports that Hasina had been airlifted from the prime minister’s residence by military helicopter began to reach them.

It comes after a tense night when the internet was cut for several hours and residents told the Guardian of raids and gunshots, even in the most affluent areas, ahead of a planned mass protest called for Monday.

What began as student protests was over a quota system for government jobs they said disproportionately allocated jobs to the descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 independence war.

But the government’s harsh crackdown on those protests have lead to hundreds of deaths which continued despite the supreme court overturning the quota law. Agence France-Presse reported 94 deaths on Sunday.

During the briefing at army headquarters, Zaman promised an investigation into the deaths.

A curfew was put in place on Monday and offices and factories were closed but protesters have still taken to the streets. Bangladeshi TV channels showed jubilant protesters dancing and chanting at locations across Dhaka.

One protester sent the Guardian a video of a crowd marching and roaring in celebration, some of them waving Bangladeshi flags, near Shahbagh, where protesters had planned to gather.

“I feel out of this world, we’re dancing in the streets now,” she said. “People are celebrating, singing, dancing. I’ve never seen this many tears of joy. People are smiling and crying at the same time.”

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13:36

Bangladesh's prime minister has resigned and fled to India, the army has said, following weeks of deadly protests in the country, Paralel.Az reports citing SKY News.

Sheikh Hasina and her sister have taken a military helicopter to India, according to the country's leading national paper.

They are taking "safe shelter" away from her official residence, Reuters reported.

At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, died in clashes in the capital on Sunday, according to local news, while hundreds more were injured.

At least six people were reportedly killed in clashes between police and protesters in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas on Monday.

The demonstrations began with students seeking to end a quota system for government jobs, but clashes with police and pro-government activists escalated into violence that left more than 200 dead last month.

That triggered more protests demanding accountability from the government, which have grown into calls for Ms Hasina, who has been leading the country since 2009, to step down.

Hasina is reported to have fled the country as anti-government protesters vowed to march to the capital to demand her resignation on Monday.